Collapsible metal ladder



July 26, 1960 P. J. MCNULTY COLLAPSIBLE METALLADDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 14, 1958 INVENTOR. PATRICK J. MG NULTY M H. m ATTORNEY July26, 1960 P. J. MCNULTY 2,946,398

COLLAPSIBLE METAL LADDER Filed April 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PATRICK J. MO NULTY CZ/$1M H.

ATTORNEY 2,946,398 CGLLAPSIBLE METAL LADDER Patrick J. McNulty, 203 W.Highland'Ave. Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Apr. 14, 1958, set. No. 728,178

4 Claims. Cl. 182-95) The present invention is directed to a collapsiblemetal ladder, and more particularly to an escape ladder which may becollapsed into a relatively small volume and which may be immediatelyused in an emergency, such as a fire or the like.

--- .-The use of rope ladders as escape means from dwellings isgradually disappearing because of laws forbidding the use of such means.Further, rope ladders are prone to deteriorate with age. Moreover, suchladders are unsightly' and relatively bulky. Thus, their coiling intotheir non-use disposition produces an unattractive article.

The use of outside fire escapes and metal ladders, while providingthe'best means for rapid escape in the case of a fire, is often toocostly for many forms of residence.

This invention has as an object the provision of a novel collapsiblemetal ladder. 1

This .invention has as another object the provision of 'a collapsiblemetal ladder which may be stored within a container having a smallvolume.

. This invention has as yet a further object the provision of acollapsible metal ladder which may be hurled outside of the buildingthrough a window within a matter of a few seconds permitting the rapidexit of the occupant of a burning building.

This invention has as yet another object the provision of a collapsiblemetal ladder whose length may be adjusted to comply with differentheights.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Y For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precisearrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer tolike parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view revealing the collapsible metal ladder ofthe present invention disposed within its container in non-usedisposition beneath the window of a dwelling.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, with parts beingbroken away, revealing the collapsible metal :ladder of the presentinvention in use disposition.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane suggested by the arrows3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4- is .a sectional view taken on the plane suggested by thearrows 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a modified embodiment of the collapsiblemetal ladder of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing the ladder embodiment of Figure 5in use, with the same being disposed outside the users window.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring initially to Figures 1 through 4 wherein like loop heads 40 ofthe eye bolts 30.

2,848,398 Patented July 26; 19 0 member having outwardly projecting endarms 22 and 24 whose outermost faces are generally parallel to .each

other and project generally perpendicularly forwardly from the wall 26.The bracket 18 also includes the center portion 28 which comprises apairof spaced-parallel arms extending forwardly in the center part ofthe bracket 18. 1

The bracket 18 is secured to the wall 26 by eye bolts 30 which extendthrough the wall 26 and are secured in position by the nuts and washers32.

The eye bolts 30 extend through the facing portions 34 and 36 of bracket18, the facing portion 34 being disposed intermediate the end arm 22 andthe center portion 28 and the facing portion 36 being disposedintermediate theend arm24 and the center portion 28. Washers 38 may beprovided intermediate the closed The ladder 20 comprises a plurality ofU-shaped links or rungs 42. Each of the U-shaped links 42 comprises apair of vertical arms 44 having closed loops 46 at "their uppermostends, which closed loops embrace the horizontal element 48.

The U-shaped links 42 are preferably formed from metal rod having somedegree of resiliency so that the 26 may be. readily disposed in respectto thewindow.

sill 12 and the frame of the window 14, and may accom modateto'differences in contour in such window sill 12 and the frame of thewindow 14. The links 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d should be of sufficient sizeso that'the link which is disposed above the first upright, link in theladder (which in the illustrated embodiment is link 420), projectsoutwardly from the outside of window sill 12 and the outside face ofwall 26. This insures that the upright links 42 of the ladder 28 arespaced from-the outside face of the wall 26 enabling the user of theladder to descend thereon and have sufficient clearance between thehorizontal element 48 of each of the links 42 and the outside face ofthe wall 26 for his hands and feet.

The links 42a are secured to the heads 40 of eye bolts 30, the closedloops 46 of such link 42a being passed through the heads 40 of the eyebolts 30. In non-use, the ladder 28 is stored in the manner shown inFigures 3 and 4, namely with the links 42 carried on the center portion28 of bracket 18. Inasmuch as the links articulate in respect to eachother this permits a relatively large number of links 42 to be carriedon the center portion 28 of bracket 18.

The container 16 serves as a cover, and is preferably formed of sheetmetal having inwardly projecting sides 50 and 52 which respectivelyfrictionally engage the end arms 22 and 24 of bracket 18 at the outsidefaces thereof. Preferably, the end arms 22 and 24 should rise to ahigher height than the center portion 28 in order that the containercover 16 is spaced above the links carried by the center portion 28 asshown in Figure 4.

' The length of the ladder 20 may be adjusted to meet specificrequirements by removing or adding links 42.

Referring to the embodiment of the ladder of the present inventiondesignated 60 shown in Figures through 8, .such ladder 60 comprises thecontainer or cover 62,

bracket 64, andthe ladder per se 66.

80. The bolt 78 passes through the wall 26.

. A flange 82 for locking in position the container or cover 62'iscarried juxtaposed to the base 70 on bolt 78, such flange 82 beingintermediate the base 70 and the nut 80. The upper portion of the flange82 is offset and receives a rim 84 from the container 62, retaining suchcontainer 62 in position. As shown in Figures 5 and .7, the container 62is preferably formed of sheet 'metal and may comprise two pieces, namelythe top 86 which is metallurgically joined as by welding to the sidepiece 88. The frictional engagement of the rim' 84 from the top piece 86intermediate the fiange82 and the Therraised ends 74 of the arms 68 ofbracket 64 are perforated with aligned openings to receive the pivotspindle 90. spindle 90 comprises a bolt having a head 92 and a "threadedend on which a nut 94 is received. A1terna-' In the illustratedembodiment the pivot tively, the pivot spindle 90 may have both of'itsends jthreaded, with each end threadably receiving a nut.'

' The ladder 66 comprises a plurality of U-shaped links or rungs 96. Aswith the ladder 20 of Figures 1 through "4, each of the U-shaped links96 comprises a pair of vertical arms 98 having closed loops 100 at theiruppermost ends (such uppermost ends being the ends of the links whichare uppermost when the ladder is in use).

The closed loops 100 of each of the links 96 of the ladder 66 embracedthe horizontal element 102 of the link immediately above it.

The first link 96a of the ladder 66 is'pivoted about Zthepivot spindle90, with its closed loops 100 embracing such pivot spindle 90. v

1 The links 96 are received on the bracket 64 when the 'ladder is innon-use, as shown in Figure 5, with such links being disposedintermediate the raised ends 74 and 76 of the bracket 64.

The bracket 64 is preferably provided with inwardly curled-teeth 104 tofacilitate in the anchorage of such bracket 64 to the wall 26 and toprevent pivotation of the bracket 64 about the bolt 78.

'base in the manner aforesaid provides for the positive 'securement ofthe cover 62.

In use, the cover 62 is raised and released from its frictionalengagement with the flange 82. Thelinks 96 of the ladder 66 are thenhurled through the window 14.

"The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible escape ladder formed entirely of metal thecombination including a bracket, said bracket having a back, spacedforwardly projecting end arms, and a forwardly projecting center rungsupporting portion disposed intermediate said end arms and spacedtherefrom, a pair of eye bolts for passing through mating openings inthe back of said bracket into a vertical supporting surface, a ladderformed of a plurality of articulated U-shaped link rungs, said linkrungs having looped ends, with said looped ends of one link rungembracing the base of the adjacent link rung, with the looped ends ofthe first of said link rungs being secured within the heads of the eyebolts, said center rung supporting portion passing through said linkrungs when the same are collapsed in corrugated storage disposition, anda cover disposed over said bracket and link rungs, when said link rungsare collapsed in corrugated storage disposition, said cover frictionallyengaging the outside faces of the end arms.

2. A collapsible metal escape ladder in accordance with .claim 1 inwhich the link rungs adjacent the bracket are -of the same width astheremaining'link rungs butare of smaller, length. a

3. A collapsible metal escape ladder in accordance with claim 1 in whichthe bracket is formed from a corrugated strip of sheet metal.

4. In a collapsible escape ladder formed entirely of metal comprising abracket, said bracket being generally U-shaped, with the base of saidU-shaped' bracket being juxtaposed to a vertical supporting surface, abolt passing through an opening in the base of said U-shaped bracketinto the vertical supporting surface, a pivot projecting from the armsof said U-shaped bracket, a ladder formed of a plurality of articulatedU-shaped link rungs, said link ,rungs having looped ends, the loopedends of the first of said link rungs pivotably engaging said projectingpivot,

with arms of said U-shaped bracket passing through said link rungs whenthe same are collapsed in corrugated storage disposition, the uppermostsurface of each of the arms of said U-shaped bracket being provided withraised ends between which the link rungs may be received on said arms, acover disposed over said bracket and link rungs and seated on the raisedends of said bracket arms,

.a flange spaced from the base of the U-shaped bracket,

the cover including a rim which may be frictionally receivedintermediate said flange and the base of th U-shaped bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS GrafiAug.'1, 1882

